It only took about a day and a half for us to get to Suna with Naruto's racing and immediately ran too the hospital to help Kankuro.
"Damn you! Prepare to defend yourself!"
I turned around to see an old lady preparing to attack Kakashi and raised a brow.
"What do you think you're doing, attacking Kakashi-sensei like that?! You wrinkly old prune!" Naruto asked making a clone.
"I haven't forgotten what you did. I've waited for this day, White Fang of the Leaf. The day I wreak vengeance on you for what you did to my son!"
"No, no, no, you see. I'm not-"
"That's enough talk!"
"Take a closer look at the man, sis," A man said stopping her. "It's true there's a resemblance, but this one is not the White Fang."
"Hello," Kakashi said.
I coughed in an attempt to hide my laugh.
"Besides, as you know, the White Fang of the Leaf died long ago. Remember? When you heard the news, you wept in frustration because it meant you would never have your vengeance. Isn't that so, sis?"
"Oh, well nevermind," She said laughing.
I raised a brow at the old woman, slightly questioning her sanity.
"What just happened?" Hoshi asked.
I opened my mouth to respond but Kankuro started struggling in the hospital bed.
"Here, let me take a look at him," Sakura said, pulling her hair up.
"Yes, please."
"Listen, it might help if you all clear out and give us some room."
"You got it Sakura," Naruto said as we all walked out.
The rest of us gather just outside of the room. I sat beside Kakashi and rested my head on his shoulder. I felt his hand rest gently on mine and rub his thumb over my knuckle.
"Hey, Kakashi-sensei, who the heck is this White Fang of the Leaf guy that made the old lady so angry. Got any idea?" Naruto asked.
"That's a tricky one… How to put it? He was…well in a word… he was my father."
"You there? You're the son of thee White Fang?" The old lady from before asked.
"Yeah."
"So that's it. That explains why you look like him."
Kakashi laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
I yawned, closing my eyes for a moment.
Kakashi gave me a slightly worried look, probably concerned about how much sleep I was getting. I waved my hand at him.
"Neh, cripple-sensei, can I go look around Suna? I've never been here before?"
"What?! No!"
"But senseiiii…"
"Hoshi, you're on a mission, be mature."
He groaned, sitting down against the wall.
"Ane-chan, why does Hoshi call you cripple?"
"Because she is one!"
I rolled my eyes, "I was injured on a mission just a few weeks before getting my team so I was on crutches when I first started with them."
"You got injured?!"
"Yes, that sometimes happens when you're a ninja, Naruto."
He frowned.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
"Way to go, Sakura!" Naruto said as we walked back in.
Temari leaned back against the wall and I walked over to her. "Hey, Temari, breathe."
She glanced up at me and I smiled.
"Just breathe. Sakura will take good care of him. He'll be okay."
She nodded slowly.
"Breathe."
"But he's not completely out of the woods yet. Now then, I have to quickly put together an antidote for the traces of toxins still remaining in his body."
"I see, anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."
"Well, first I'll need a list of all the medicinal herbs you have in the village," Sakura said.
I smiled, seeing how much she had improved, especially since she had helped with my own healing process.
"Yes at once."
"And we should trade these bandages for new ones."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'll need an IV drip set up stat. Oh and be sure to set apart a small portion of the toxin I took out. I'll be needing it later."
"You remind me of the old slug queen Tsunade," the old lady said. "Isn't it strange, you turning up in our village like this."
"Well, after all it is Lady Tsunade is my teacher. And it was by her order that I personally came here."
"Here's that list of medicinal herbs," the nurse from before said as she walked back into the room.
"Good thank you very much."
"Keep in mind, sister, that the river of time keeps flowing right by us."
I glanced over at Kakashi and Naruto, seeing Kakashi with a scroll. I slowly stood and walked over. "What is it?"
"It seems Team Gai is on it's way here as back up."
I smiled, "Oh good, I was worried I hadn't seen your eternal rival in a while."
"Bushier brow-sensei's team? I can't wait to see how they've all changed," Naruto said. "I hear even Neji's been made a jonin… well alright! No sense waiting around for them to get here! Let's go after the Akatsuki right now!" He started running off.
"Okay, but which way are they going?" Kakashi asked. "Do you even know where they are?"
Naruto froze and I laughed as he turned around sheepishly. "Uh… no…"
"If you don't mind me asking, what have been the results of your attempts so far to pursue the Akatsuki?"
"First, Kankuro went after them by himself… and you see what happened to him… Then we dispatched a tracking unit in pursuit but we haven't heard back from them. And there's another problem. It appears that Captain Yura, one of our counsel advisors, has gone missing. We don't even know if he's alive."
"So you have no trace of them then?" I asked.
"None at all."
I frowned and glanced over at Kakashi who seemed to be frowning as well.
Kakashi glanced towards me, "Do you think-"
"No. They're too far away by this point. They'd need to be in the same room and even then it's unlikely."
Naruto looked between the two of us. "Huh? What are you two-"
"Lord Baki, Kankuro has regained consciousness."
"Kankuro, are you alright?" Temari asked.
"Temari, you're back already."
"I heard the village was in trouble."
"I'm sorry… to be such a bother."
"Shut up. Don't be ridicules."
"Can you lead me to where Kankuro's fight with the Akatsuki took place?" Kakashi asked.
"Hm?"
"I'm known for having a pretty good nose for tracking. If any trace of their scent remains on the scene-"
"There's no need for that," Kankuro said sitting up slowly. "Where are my puppets? I assume my puppets were recovered, right?"
"One fought with me, the other one carried Gaara away," Kankuro said once they'd brought his puppet. "You might be able to follow Gaara's scent but you can defiantly track the one I fought. I made sure of it. You see, I've got his scent right here. The last thing I did, was make sure I got a scrap of his clothing."
"Even in defeat you went down fighting. Just what I'd expect from a sand shinobi."
Kankuro grabbed his side.
"Kankuro, what's wrong?" Temari asked.
He looked up at Naruto.
"Yes, he came all the way from the leaf village to help us."
"Is that… Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Hey there."
"I see."
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!" Kakashi said.
"At your service. Eight ninja hounds."
I smiled, seeing Pakkun. It had been a long time since I'd seen him around.
"Hey! Pakkun!"
"Is that you, Naruto? Long time no see."
"Woah! Look at you. You haven't changed a bit!"
"You haven't either."
"Huh, what're you talking about? I'm a lot taller for one thing."
"Alright alright. Let's skip the reunion. I need you guys to get on this right away," Kakashi said showing the dogs the piece of cloth.
"Find out which way he went, okay? Go on."
"We'll let you know when we find something."
"They won't let us down."
It was quiet for a minute.
"Okay! We move out as soon as Pakkun and his posy get back! So I say we start getting ready!" Naruto yelled.
I grabbed his shoulder lightly. "Naruto…" I said quietly, "You need to rest. You're no good to anyone if you're exhausted…"
"Kankuro."
"Lady Chiyo and Lord Abizou? You're here?"
"There's something we must know and only you can tell us. Am I correct in thinking that one of you opponents, the one you fought with, was Sasori?"
Kankuro looked away.
"Well, speak up, Kankuro."
"Yes, Sasori or the Red Sand. He told me so himself."
"Sasori of the Red Sand, huh? I get the feeling you know something about these Akatsuki," Kakashi said. "Will you tell us?"
"That's right, drink it all," Sakura said, making Kankuro drink the antidote to the poison.
Kankuro coughed.
"There, you should be all right now. Just lie back and rest. And don't move around until the numbness passes."
"All of you are going to need rest as well from your journey."
"But-but we've got to go after Gaara."
"Thanks, we'll take you up on you offer. We may have to travel far and fast tomorrow," Kakashi said.
Naruto frowned. "You need rest," I said.
He sighed but nodded. "Okay, you win."
We started to leave.
"Naruto… save my little brother, will you?" Kankuro asked quietly.
"Don't worry. I will. After all, I'm going to be Hokage one day and for now the Kazekage can just owe me one."
Wow so I already got a review! Thank you so much to HarukoHyuga! I'm really glad you enjoy the story, I'll try and keep them coming fairly often :)
